It is a crazy franchise with mass reincarnation to make it wackier in its 4th edition.

And the madness starts right away with hairstylist Harry who loses his memory when he hears a loud noise. Brothers Harry, Max and Roy are in London where they woo the three daughters of a millionaire businessman.

For their destination wedding, the globe they spin keeps pointing them to a remote place called Sitamgarh.

It’s destiny calling of course. As they encounter Aakhri Pasta there who’s amazed that all of them have been reincarnated.

The harkback to 1419 is not so crazy when Harry was Rajkumar Bala, Max and Roy and the sisters with their father were all there too. There was a kingdom to inherit with a villain to spoil their love stories.

Back in 2019, it builds up to a climax as one by one each character remembers what happened in 1419. And the incomplete revenge and love stories get closure after 600 years.

With five writers on board, director Farhad Samji goes the whole hog. Tasting bird droppings and the excreta of a pig are all passed off as comedy.

And practically all the dialogues depend on rhyming for fun. Pasta-raasta, ikkees ek kiss, kabootar ka yuck brings good luck, Bala-saala-Patiala, kheer-teer, waqt-takht, abla tabla, you get the picture.

But to be fair, despite the two lives of so many characters and the complications of the plot, Samji manages to tie it all together with some moments of genuine fun. I saw the kids break into happy giggles every time Harry got shot in the backside or when three kabootars were named Neil Nitin Mukesh.

Music by an assorted bunch of composers is more noise than melody but the actors carry it off with an easy flair for comedy. The three heroines do what all girls do in a Housefull film – they decorate the screen whichever century they may belong to. But Akshay Kumar who’s often silly with conviction, gives Harry and Bala the comfort of good timing. Riteish Deshmukh, one of my favourites at comedy, is superb as Roy who hasn’t put in a tender to determine his gender. Bobby Deol too is fine with his fists as he plays Dharamputra. Get the pun? Chunky Panday gets a bigger turn as Aakhri Pasta who’s the first link between 1419 and 2019. Ranjeet, Johnny Lever, Sharad Kelkar and Rana Daggubatti are all well cast. But Nawazuddin Siddiqui is wasted in a short tantrik baba’s role.

Verdict: When you step in to see a Housefull film, you know what to expect. So you’re forewarned. For a franchise where brainless entertainment is supreme, Housefull 4 gets a 2.5*.

Direction: 3.5/5

Story: 2.5/5

Screenplay: 2.5/5

Dialogues: 3/5

Music: 2.5/5

Disclaimer: We are proud that LehrenTV reviewer Bharathi S Pradhan has been appointed an advisory member of the prestigious CBFC. However, her reviews reflect her personal appraisal of a film and do not in any way speak on behalf of the Censor Board.

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